Will I look like a bald man?

Without hair, will I look masculine? I have androgenic alopecia, or female pattern baldness. So, I still have a decent amount of hair all over my head. I have retained a normal hairline. However my hair is thinning on the top, the upper sides, and the top back. I have about twice as much hair on the back ring of my head as on the top.

I still have enough hair to get by. My hair is curly, which adds volume and camouflages. I keep it short, and I use Derm Match every day to fill in the thin spots on the top. However, I am thinking more and more about eventually shaving my hair. For me, I would prefer to have a naked head then a visible thin or balding head. As hair continues to fall out, I move closer and closer to shaving.

But here is my biggest inhibition... will I look like a bald man? This might not be PC to ask, but I imagine there is some legitimacy behind my fear. I have to know... Will my thin top and sides give me a sheer, shiny crown, while the areas of thick hair around my brain stem and ears give me a deep shadow? Will my head look masculine? What happens if I just buzz the hair super short, like an eighth or quarter inch? Or is a shave with a razor the only way? What will make me look more or less bald? How can I be bold and bald and beautiful without looking like a transvestite?

I feel like I need some visual examples to help me in my decision making, and to ease my coming to terms with shaving. I am so excited about the idea, but held back by this fear of looking masculine. I would really Really REALLY appreciate seeing some images of other women with thinning loss, female pattern baldness, or patchy baldness who have buzzed or shaved hair, so I can get an idea of what to expect. If possible,I would like to see front, side, back, and top angles, just so I can get an idea of the shading and thinness of a buzzed FPB head.

I know not everyone is comfortable posting naked head pics publicly, so perhaps there are some of you out there who would send me your photos privately. I promise to keep it confidential and personal. I just NEED to know what I can expect.

And I promise that someday if and when I buzz my own hair, I will post lots of before, during and after photos to help other women like me see what they can expect.

Thanks for any advice, experience, and photos you are willing to share!

Views: 228

Comment by Julie G on December 13, 2010 at 4:22pm

I have AA too and am in the same boat as you, I have actually made the decision to get a wig in the next month a so after I am in my friends wedding.  I am not sure what I am going to do with my existing hair whether I am going to shave or just cut it shorter.  I guess only time with the salon and with a wig will tell me that.  I am going to go see a specialist around mid January to see what my options are.

Comment by Kate on December 13, 2010 at 6:46pm

Hi Julie - I am glad we can share our experiences. This androgenic alopecia at a young age is whacky! The hardest part is trying to figure out when the loss is too much. For me, most of my close friends and family both acknowledge my loss and thinning, but also assure me I have enough hair to keep wearing it naturally. So I feel weird about the situaion, as though my current hair is not right, but shaving now would not be right either. For me, I think I don't want to go to wearing a wig when the hair finally gets to that point, I would rather wear scarves and go bald. But I desperately want to know if I should prepare for a bald man look with a shiny crown and a thick shadow around by lower head. I do hope that if and when you cut your hair short or shave for your wig that you might consider shaving some pictures. It means so much to me to see other women go through the process, and see how lovely and femanine they still look.

 

Best of luck with your wig shopping. I hope you keep us posted! And p.s. I think your freckles are ADORABLE!

Comment by Julie G on December 13, 2010 at 7:08pm

Kate,

I actually have a lot more loss than you(from your pictures on your profile).  I started thinning out when I was around 18, so I have been dealing with AA for 15 years, but I was just diagnosed finally in the last 2 years.  It is getting worse and I just don't feel like checking my hair and being so self conscious all of the time.

I think that you would still look feminine if you were to shave.  Wear earrings and put some pretty makeup on, and I would think that your other bodily assets will show them that you are a beautiful woman!  I don't think I could do the whole bald look because of scars on my scalp from cracking my head open a few times and I just don't think my head would be attractive.  I am looking forward to having a full head of hair that is for sure!

Either way for both of us we need to do what we feel is best for us.  I should have taken this step a long time ago, I had many many low moments in my life because of it and I am ready to move past it and take back control. 

Thanks for the compliment on my freckles, they definitely do stick out =)

I will keep everyone posted on my process!

Julie

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